While the chemicals industry supports the goals of REACH, its implementation will be all-consuming. The impact-assessment battle continues, but whether you’re an importer, distributor, formulator or downstream user, you need to know what you’re up against.

The new regulations promise to bring about improvements in innovation and competitiveness in the EU chemicals industry, a more simple and ordered regulatory system, a reduced dependence on fossil fuels and cost savings in raw materials and lawsuits. REACH reverses the burden of proof and puts the responsibility on the producer and importer to show that substances are safe before they can be placed on the market. If conducted properly REACH will restore consumer trust in chemicals used in consumer products which will have a knock-on effect throughout the whole chemicals supply chain.

Rapra’s first international conference on REACH, featured case studies from the likes of Degussa, Dow Corning, Clariant, Ineos Vinyls and MBDA as well as papers from respected legal firms Keller and Heckman LLP and Eversheds.

REACH USA 2008
Rapra Technology is organising a second conference on REACH taking place in Boston, Massachusetts in April 2008. Please click here for more details.

Paper 1 KEYNOTE PAPER: An Update from the European Commission
Otto Linher, European Commission, Brussels

Paper 2 State of play and likely or actual changes
Andrew Fasey, PTK Ltd, UK

SESSION 2 PREPARING FOR REACH AND ITS IMPLICATIONS

Paper 3 REACH Countdown has started
Ineke Gubbels-van Hal, Ciba Expert Services, Belgium

Paper 4 Legal implications of REACH: obligations, pitfalls and practical guidance
Louise Howarth, Eversheds, UK

Paper 5 The effect of REACH on the supply of chemicals in the EU
Cyril Jacquet, Keller and Heckman LLP, Belgium

Paper 6 Within REACH or still out of touch? What are the implications for substitution?
Peter Chandler, Centre for process innovation, UK

Paper 7 Developing strategies for complex registration involving oligmers
Mr. Paul Ashford & Mr. Paul Becker, Caleb Management Services, Uk

Paper 8 Chemical Substitution in Practice
Stephen Lipworth, Royal Society of Chemistry, UK

SESSION 3 INFLUENCE OF REACH ON THE POLYMER SECTOR

Paper 9 The effect of REACH on polymer materials
Herbert Estreicher, J.D. Ph.D., Keller and Heckman LLP, USA

Paper 10 The impact of REACH on a coating supplier: real or perceived or unable to decide at present?
Peter Oldring, Valspar Europe, UK

Paper 11 The implications of REACH legislation for the PVC manufacturer and user
Chris Howick, Ineos Vinyls, UK & Jason Leadbitter, Hydro Polymers, UK

Paper 12 REACH and flame retardants – how additive producers are preparing and caring
Mr Sander Kroon, supresta Netherlands & Dr. Adrian Beard, Clarinet GmbH &Chairman, European Flame Retardants Association

Paper 13 REACH – A company’s progress and perspective
Mark Pemberton, Lucite International, UK

Paper 14 The distributor’s perspective – TBC
Douglas Leech, Chemical Business Association, UK

SESSION 4 CASE STUDIES FROM THE CHEMICALS SUPPLY CHAIN

Paper 15 CASE STUDY - The importance of supply chain dialogue in making REACH effective
Keith Huckle, Dow Corning Corporation, Belgium

Paper 16 CASE STUDY - How to bring costs down by realising the OSOR principle
Dr. Volker Boerger, Schill Seilacher “Struktol” AG, Germany

Paper 17 CASE STUDY – How Degussa is preparing for REACH
Dr. Volker J Soballa, Degussa AG, Germany

Paper 18 CASE STUDY – What downstream users should be doing in order to both understand and mitigate the impact of REACH on their businesses
Steve Doe, MBDA, UK

Paper 19 REACH and the retailer
Paul Wilkes, The Body Shop International, UK

SESSION 5 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

Paper 20 REACH compliance costs
Steffen Erler, REACHReady, UK

Paper 21 Consortium management and other options to reduce costs under REACH
Dr. Wolfgang Ihme, RCC Ltd, Switzerland

SESSION 6 TESTING, DATA COLLECTION AND INFORMATION SHARING

Paper 22 An overview of REACH testing requirements
Dr. Derek J Knight, SafePharm Laboratories Ltd, UK

Paper 23 Intelligent data collection strategies for chemical substances under REACH
Frederick Verdonck & Marnix Vangheluwe, Euras, Belgium

Paper 24 REACH data sharing and consortia building – technical issues
Mathew Curl, TSG Europe, UK

SESSION 7 LESSONS LEARNED AND OPPORTUNITES FOR THE FUTURE

Paper 25 Case studies highlighting specific approaches being taken to prepare for REACH
Dr. Irene Mc Grath, International, Ireland

Paper 26 Opportunities for deep innovation in a post REACH world
Neville Hargreaves and Richard Miller, Chemistry Innovation Knowledge Transfer Network, UK